Atypical Sensory Processing and Its Correlation with Behavioral Problems in Late Preterm Children at Age Two

Yu-Chin Chen, Wen-Hui Tsai, Chung-Han Ho, Hsuan-Wen Wang, Lan-Wan Wang, Lin-Yu Wang, Hsin-Hua Wang and Yea-Shwu Hwang
Additional contact information
Yu-Chin Chen: Department of Pediatrics, Chi Mei Medical Center, Chiali, Tainan 72263, Taiwan
Wen-Hui Tsai: Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan 71004, Taiwan
Chung-Han Ho: Department of Medical Research, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan 71004, Taiwan
Hsuan-Wen Wang: Taipei City Psychiatric Center, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei 11080, Taiwan
Lan-Wan Wang: Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan 71004, Taiwan
Lin-Yu Wang: Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan 71004, Taiwan
Hsin-Hua Wang: Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan 71004, Taiwan
Yea-Shwu Hwang: Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 12, 1-11

Abstract: This study aimed to compare the prevalence rate of atypical sensory processing in late preterm (LP) and term children at two years of age and to further investigate the co-occurrence of atypical sensory processing and behavioral problems (internalizing/externalizing) in both groups of children. A total of 104 children (52 LP and 52 sex- and birth order-matched term children) were included. The primary caregivers were asked to complete the Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile—Chinese version and the Child Behavior Checklist 1.5-5Y—Chinese version (CBCL-C/1.5-5). We found that the LP group had a similar prevalence rate of atypical sensory processing to the term group. However, neonatal intensive care unit experience ( r = ?0.356, p = 0.013, with visual processing) and days of ventilation and supplementary oxygen ( r = ?0.392, p = 0.004, with low registration) after birth were significantly correlated with the atypical sensory processing of LP children. Both LP and term children with behavioral problems seemed to have a higher prevalence rate of atypical sensory processing than their peers without behavioral problems. However, when Bonferroni correction was used to control for the statistical errors of multiple comparisons, only in the LP group did the co-occurrence of atypical sensory processing (auditory and oral sensory processing and sensation avoiding) and behavioral problems reach significance. In conclusion, the influence of late preterm birth on sensory processing may become subtle at age two, with the exception of those LP children experiencing complicated medical management after birth. A high level of co-occurrence of atypical sensory processing and behavioral problems suggests that the administration of a sensory processing assessment may be helpful to clarify the cause of problematic behavior and to recommend an appropriate intervention for LP children with behavioral problems.

Keywords: late preterm; sensory processing; behavioral problems; child (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/12/6438/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/12/6438/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:12:p:6438-:d:574787

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().